Blower assembly with multi segmented support arrangement for split air conditioner

ABSTRACT

A blower assembly for a split air conditioner comprises a casing including a bearing trough in one end, a pair of rubber sleeve troughs in the other opposite end, a plurality of central hollow posts each having a threaded hole; and a blower including a plurality of blower units each having a shaft in one end and a hole in the other opposite end, at least one bearing seat, a plurality of bearings, at least one motor, and a plurality of rubber sleeves mounted on the motor and together rested on the rubber sleeve troughs, a plurality of plates for threadedly securing the rubber sleeves. By utilizing this, a variety of advantages are obtained such as an increase of draft, more stable operation, no abnormal expansion and contraction, and noise reduction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to air conditioners and more particularly to a blower with multi segmented support arrangement for a split air conditioner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional blower assembly A for split air conditioner is shown in FIG. 9 wherein a blower B is rotatably mounted between a shaft C1 of motor C and a bearing D. Both motor C and bearing D are threadedly secured to the casing of blower assembly A. Further, blower B consists of a plurality of integrally formed blower units. It is seen that blower B is supported by only shaft C1 and bearing D. Hence, several disadvantages are found in the practical use. For example, the gravitational center of blower B may be lowered when blower B is prolonged for increasing draft. This further increases vibration during the operation of blower assembly A. Furthermore, the useful life of bearing D and motor C is shortened. Moreover, abnormal expansion and contraction of blower B are occurred. This may cause the blades of blower B to be rotated in an off-center manner, resulting in an increase of noise. Thus improvements exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a blower assembly for a split air conditioner comprising a casing including a bearing trough in one end, a pair of rubber sleeve troughs in the other opposite end, a plurality of central hollow posts each having a threaded hole; and a blower including a plurality of blower units each having a shaft in one end and a hole in the other opposite end, at least one bearing seat, a plurality of bearings, at least one motor, and a plurality of rubber sleeves mounted on the motor and together rested on the rubber sleeve troughs, a plurality of plates for threadedly securing the rubber sleeves. By utilizing this, a variety of advantages are obtained such as an increase of draft, more stable operation, no abnormal expansion and contraction of the blower assembly, and noise reduction.

[0004] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of blower assembly with two segments support and single motor arrangement for split air conditioner according to the invention;

[0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a portion broken away to reveal certain components of the blower assembly;

[0007]FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a portion broken away to reveal certain components of the blower assembly;

[0008]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of blower assembly with three segments support and two motors arrangement for split air conditioner according to the invention with a portion broken away to reveal certain components of the blower assembly;

[0009]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a double bearing seat arrangement of blower assembly according to the invention;

[0010]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a single bearing seat with double arcuate trough arrangement of blower assembly according to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 air conditioner;

[0012]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the FIG. 4 air conditioner; and

[0013]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional blower assembly for split air conditioner

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is shown a blower assembly for split air conditioner in accordance with the invention. The blower assembly is provided within a house, while the main body of air conditioner is provided outside the house. Blower assembly comprises a casing 10, a blower 20, an evaporator 30, a pan 40, and a louver 50. Casing 10 is an elongate parallelepiped and comprises a bearing trough 11 in one end, a pair of rubber sleeve troughs 12 in the other opposite end, a plurality of central hollow posts 13 each having a threaded hole 131. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, blower 20 comprises two blower units 21, a bearing seat 22, two bearings 23, and a motor 24. Rubber sleeves 241 are put on two ends of motor 24 and together are rested on rubber sleeve troughs 12. Then press rubber sleeves 241 by plates 25 and threadedly secure them together by driving screws 26 through holes 251. Hence, motor 24 may stably operate on casing 10. Bearing 23 in the central portion of the bottom of casing 10 is anchored on an arcuate trough 221 of bearing seat 22. A slot 222 is provided on one upward section of trough 221 and a threaded hole 223 is provided on the other upward section of trough 221. A threaded hole 224 is formed adjacent slot 222 on bearing seat 22. As such, screw 26 may drive through threaded hole 224 to secure bearing seat 22 to casing 10. The arcuate bearing seat 22 is shaped to conform to the bottom of casing 10. A shaft 212 is provided on one end of blower unit 21 inserted into the bore of bearing 23. A threaded hole 211 is provided on the other end of blower unit 21 for receiving and corotating with the shaft 242 of motor 24. In the two blower units 21 arrangement, the connection therebetween is that shaft 212 of the other blower unit 21 is inserted through a bearing 23 and into hole 211 of one blower unit 21 (see FIG. 1).

[0015] In assembly, first drive screws 26 through holes 224 of bearing seat 22 and holes 131 of posts 13 for securing bearing seat 22 to casing 10. Then put hole 211 of blower unit 21 on shaft 242 of motor 24. Next insert shaft 212 of the same blower unit 21 into bearing 23 and hole 211 of another blower unit 21. Then threadedly secure them together. A bearing 23 is put on shaft 212 of another blower unit 212. Then put the assembled blower 20 on casing 10 wherein bearing 23 between two blower units 21 is rested on trough 221 of bearing seat 22. Then press bearing 23 by plate 25 with one end of plate 25 inserted into slot 222. Then drive screw 26 through hole 251 and hole 223 to secure bearing 23 to bearing seat 22. Bearing 23 at one end of the assembled blower units 21 is rested on bearing trough 11, while the other end of the assembled blower units 214 is secured to motor 24. Rubber sleeves 241 are rested on rubber sleeve troughs 12. Bearing 23 and rubber sleeves 241 are pressed by plate 25 and further threadedly secured to casing 10. The two blower units 21 has a larger draft as compared to single blower unit 21 when motor 24 is activated. The invention further has following advantages. For example, gravitational center of blower 20 is not lowered. This does not increase vibration during the normal operation of blower 20. Moreover, abnormal expansion and contraction of blower 20 are substantially eliminated. In addition, noise is reduced in operation.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a blower consisting of three blower unit 21 for split air conditioner according to the invention. The assembly procedure of the embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Thus a detailed description thereof is eliminated for the sake of brevity. It is understood that, however, blower assembly may consists of more than three blower units in other embodiments.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, there is shown a second embodiment of blower assembly consisting of three blower units 21 and two motors 24 arrangement for split air conditioner according to the invention. This can further increase draft. Also, a single bearing seat 22′ with double arcuate trough 221′ is provided. Shaft 212 of one blower unit 21 is inserted through bearing 23 which is rested on trough 221′.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is seen that two air openings (FIG. 7) and three air openings (FIG. 8) are formed in the air conditioner respectively. Further, blower assembly is supported by a plurality of segments. Hence., it is stable.

[0019] While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blower assembly f a split air conditioner comprising: a casing including a bearing trough in one end, a pair of rubber sleeve troughs in said other opposite end, a plurality of central hollow posts each having a threaded hole; and a blower including a plurality of blower units each having a shaft in one end and a hole in said other opposite end, at least one arcuate bearing seat. a plurality of bearings, at least one motor, and a plurality of rubber sleeves mounted on said motor and together rested on said rubber sleeve troughs, a plurality of plates for threadedly securing said rubber sleeves.
 2. The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein said arcuate bearing seat is shaped to conform to said bottom of said casing.
 3. The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein said number of blower unit is at least two.
 4. The blower assembly of claim 1, wherein said number of motor is two.
 5. The blower assembly of claim 4, farther comprising a bearing seat means with a pair of arcuate bearing troughs such that said shaft of one blower unit is capable of inserting through said bearing rested on one of said bearing troughs of said bearing seat means. 